Bricklayer&#39;s scutch



R m w W.

n o S w W J 0 n m w R July 15, 1952 R. J. WATSON BRICKLAYER'S SCUTCH Filed Aug 6 1948 BY udfi'uw zim 2,603,537 BRICKLAYERS SCUTCH Raymond J. Watson, Terre Haute, Ind.

Application August 6, 1948, Serial No. 42,919

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to an improved bricklayers scutch of the type embodying a head provided at least at one end with a detachable reversible blade.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide improved means for attaching the blade to the head without the aid of bolts or like separate fastening elements and so that impacts will not be received by the inoperative edge of the blade.

A further object of the invention is to provide a construction whereby attachment and removal of the blade may be easily and quickly accomplished.

The exact nature of the present invention will become apparent from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a scutch constructed in accordance with the presentinvention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view thereof taken on line 2--2 of Figure 1 and drawn on a reduced scale;

Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the blades; 7

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing the position of the blade at either end of the head after using the scutch for a short time so as to subject the said blade to impacts.

Referring in detail to the drawing, 5 indicates an elongated head made of suitable metal and having a central opening or socket at 6 in which one end of a handle 1 is secured. The ends of the head'5 are squared off, and a transverse V-shaped recess 8 is formed in each of said ends so as to provide a pair of substantially rigid jaws 9 at opposite sides of each recess.

A reversible blade IU of double wedge or diamond shape is attached to each end of the head 5, each blade having one end or Wedge portion thereof initially driven partially into a recess 8 at one end of the head so as to be frictionally held in place without spreading the jaws 9. Intermediate its ends, each blade is provided on opposite sides with transverse stop ribs H which are spaced from the ends of the jaws 9 as shown in Figures 1 and 2' when the blade is initially driven in place. Each end or wedge portion of each blade is of slightly larger taper than the recesses 8, as well as of less length from the ribs H to its edge than the depth of the recesses 8. Thus, when the blade is driven further into the associated recess by initial use of the tool and until the ribs ll contact the ends of the associated jaws 9 as shown in Figure 4, the inner edge of said blade will be spaced from the bottom of said recess and will not receive impacts or be dulled or damaged thereby. It will also be evident that when the blade is driven from the position of Figures 1 and 2 to that of Figure 4, the jaws 9 will be slightly spread apart an placed under tension to increase the frictional grip of said jaws on the blade.

To remove either of the blades for the purpose of reversing or sharpening the same, or for permitting the insertion of a new blade, the head is laid upon a support in such a manner upon one of its sides that the blade will project beyond the support, whereupon the blade is struck one or more blows upon its upper side edge and near its outer end, thereby driving the blade downwardly and out of the recess.

By tapering the wedge portions of the blade larger or more abruptly than the. recess, a most eflicient attachment of the blade is effected, and by using the stop ribs on the blade and making the wedge portions thereof of lesser depth than the recess, dulling of or damage to the edge of the inoperative wedge portion of the blade is prevented. It will be apparent that either or both ends of the head may be equipped with a detachable reversible blade in accordance with the present invention.

Having described the claimed as new is:

In a bricklayers scutch, a head having a V- shaped recess in an end thereof, said recess opening through one end and the adjacent side edges of the head and providing a pair of substantially rigid imperforate jaws, and an insertable and removable reversible blade unit embodying two selectively usable wedge-shaped blade portions integrally joined at their respective thicker ends, one of said blade portions being frictionally fitted in said recess between said jaws, said blade unit having transverse outstanding stop ribs on opposite sides thereof midway between the respective cutting ends of the blade portions in contact with the end portions of said jaws, each blade portion being of larger taper and a length less than the depth of said recess, whereby the same may be temporarily held between the jaws with the stop ribs spaced from the free ends of the jaws, said jaws being adapted to be sprung apart by forcibly driving the blade unit until the stop ribs move into positive contact with said free ends of the jaws upon initial use of said unit in said recess, contact'of the cutting edge of the blade portion fitted in said recess with the bottom of the latter invention, what is I 4 beingprevented by the stop ribs,'the frictional fit UNITED STATES PATENTS of the blade portion in the recess forming the sole Numb r 7 Na 1 means for securing the blade'unit to the head and 486 Morrisgxlleet a1 the lengths of said ribs corresponding to the 827:432 Fine 1906 widths of said jaws and blade unit. 5 871.058 Donaldson et a1. 1907 RAYMOND WATSON- 1,679,071 Campbell July 31, 1928 REFERENCES CITED 7 7 v FOREIGN PATENTS The following references are of record in the Number y Da file of this patent: t 10 14,324 Germany .Ju1yn19, 1881 766,52 France June 29; 1934 

